Adam Dunn goes to the videotape

Impressive what a pregame videotape session can do for a slumping slugger. That's all it took for Adam Dunn, who had gone 8 for 65 entering Saturday's game against St. Louis, to regain his powerful stroke.

Dunn worked with hitting coach Rick Eckstein while watching tape to correct what the first baseman called a "minor mechanical deal," and the result was a homer, a double and five RBI in a 14-5 victory tonight.

"I think [they] found a little something before the ballgame," Manager Jim Riggleman said. "They were talking about it in the video room, and they pointed it out, both of them with a very trained eye for details, found a little something that might have something to do with it, took it into batting practice. Adam told me after batting practice, 'I'm going to have a big day today.'"

Dunn's slump had covered the past 19 games, when he had just a .237 OBP during that stretch. Tonight, Dunn reached base three times in four plate appearances.

Dunn wasn't the only player with a big hitting night. Michael Morse had a career-high four hits, and Roger Bernadina and Willie Harris each had two RBI. Bernadina's came on his 10th home run.

"I wouldn't say I'm out of" a the slump, said Dunn, not wanting to take anything for granted.

Despite appearances to the contrary, Riggleman said the victory by no means felt secure after Dunn's homer. With Triple Crown candidate Albert Pujols in the lineup for the Cardinals, who are battling to make the postseason, a three-run lead isn't enough.

"It really wasn't comfortable," Riggleman said. "It's like [GM] Mike [Rizzo] and [team President] Stan [Kasten] were talking to me. It didn't feel like a 14-5 game. It was tight all the way. When [reliever Sean] Burnett was pitching to Pujols [in the seventh], it's a three-run lead, but he hit that ball right on the button, and Adam Kennedy hadn't played right, and we got a break right there, so it certainly didn't feel like 14-5."

Oh my god, we got rid of Dribble and now Ray
Knight is telling us what great things he did
during his playing career. Where do they get
these guys from. Send Knight, Debbie Taylor to Harrisburg and let us watch the game in peace.

I am ok with Knight but it really would be nice to have someone like Palmer who is not a homer and actually gives knowledge and insight into the game without blowing his own horn. That being said, the one person I can absolutely do without is Ms. Taylor. She is unbearable and adds nothing of value to the broadcast or postgame. I honestly switch channels when she comes on. Cannot understand why she is here.

sjm3091: Debbie Taylor is here because her husband works in the scouting department (go figure) believe me bro i share your pain.Adam Dunn went to the videotape? really what made him do that? maybe the fact that he wasn't going to get that gazillion dollar free agent contract if he kept slumping .

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